<p>Hyderabad: Congress government in Telangana has decided to order a CBI investigation into the Kaleshwaram project controversy. </p><p>The government had previously constituted a commission led by former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh to investigate alleged irregularities, misuse of public funds, and corruption in the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages within the Kaleshwaram project. </p>.Kaleshwaram panel report: Ex minister Harish Rao defends KCR.<p>The Ghosh Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the government on July 31, 2025, which the state cabinet approved on August 4, 2025. The cabinet also decided to table the report in the assembly for detailed discussion. The commission found several irregularities, including negligence, deliberate suppression of facts, and financial irregularities in the project's construction during the previous BRS regime and blamed the then chief minister K Chandrshekar Rao.</p><p>After the report was tabled in the Assembly on Sunday and heated discussions ensued, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced the government's decision to transfer the probe to the CBI, a move that drew criticism from BRS leaders. The CBI probe will require Telangana to revoke the general consent that the previous BRS government had withdrawn three years ago.</p><p>During the discussion on the Ghose commission report, chief minister A Revanth Reddy said that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report stated that Medigadda barrage was damaged due to lack of planning, design and quality control deficiencies. The NDSA has identified that the defects in the construction were due to poor quality and maintenance. The NDSA and the Commission reports have made it clear it required a deeper and more comprehensive investigation is on all these issues, he added.<br><br>“Inter-state entities, various departments and agencies of the Central and State Governments are involved in this project. Since Central Public Sector Undertakings like WAPCOS and financial institutions like PFC and REC are involved in the design, construction and financing of the project, the government decided to hand over this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hence, the House took a decision to hand over the investigation of the Kaleshwaram project case to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” said Revanth Reddy.<br><br>During the debate on the Ghose Commission report Revanth Reddy also said that Kaleshwaram Corporation was formed for the construction of the Kaleshwaram project and borrowed Rs. 85,449 crore. The previous BRS government borrowed Rs. 27,738 crores at 11.5 percent interest from Power Finance Corporation and another Rs. 30,536 crores borrowed at 12 percent interest, he added.</p><p>BRS working president KT Rama Rao described the P.C. Ghose Commission report as a “trash report,” accusing the Congress of conspiring with the BJP to permanently close down Telangana’s lifeline project.</p><p>KTR alleged that the ruling party had suppressed the Opposition’s voice inside the Assembly. “Our members were not allowed to speak. Even when Harish Rao tried to raise valid points, the Chief Minister and Ministers shouted him down. The Speaker acted as though nothing was amiss,” he said.</p><p>KTR maintained that Kaleshwaram, the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme, is an engineering marvel and a boon to lakhs of farmers.</p><p>“The Currency Manager (CM) of Rahul Gandhi in Telangana has decided to handover Kaleshwaram case to CBI. The very CBI that RahulGandhi had famously called “Opposition Elimination Cell” of the BJP. Have you any clue Gandhi on what your CM is doing? Bring it on, whatever it is that you conspire against us, we will fight legally and politically. We have faith in judiciary and the people,” said KTR.</p><p>Additionally, the Telangana Assembly passed two bills that will enable 42% reservations for Backward Classes in both rural and urban local bodies. The Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 were passed by voice vote after a heated debate during which the ruling Congress and main opposition BRS blamed each other for non-implementation of enhanced reservation for Bcs.</p>
<p>Hyderabad: Congress government in Telangana has decided to order a CBI investigation into the Kaleshwaram project controversy. </p><p>The government had previously constituted a commission led by former Supreme Court Justice Pinaki Chandra Ghosh to investigate alleged irregularities, misuse of public funds, and corruption in the construction of the Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages within the Kaleshwaram project. </p>.Kaleshwaram panel report: Ex minister Harish Rao defends KCR.<p>The Ghosh Commission of Inquiry submitted its report to the government on July 31, 2025, which the state cabinet approved on August 4, 2025. The cabinet also decided to table the report in the assembly for detailed discussion. The commission found several irregularities, including negligence, deliberate suppression of facts, and financial irregularities in the project's construction during the previous BRS regime and blamed the then chief minister K Chandrshekar Rao.</p><p>After the report was tabled in the Assembly on Sunday and heated discussions ensued, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced the government's decision to transfer the probe to the CBI, a move that drew criticism from BRS leaders. The CBI probe will require Telangana to revoke the general consent that the previous BRS government had withdrawn three years ago.</p><p>During the discussion on the Ghose commission report, chief minister A Revanth Reddy said that the National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) report stated that Medigadda barrage was damaged due to lack of planning, design and quality control deficiencies. The NDSA has identified that the defects in the construction were due to poor quality and maintenance. The NDSA and the Commission reports have made it clear it required a deeper and more comprehensive investigation is on all these issues, he added.<br><br>“Inter-state entities, various departments and agencies of the Central and State Governments are involved in this project. Since Central Public Sector Undertakings like WAPCOS and financial institutions like PFC and REC are involved in the design, construction and financing of the project, the government decided to hand over this case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Hence, the House took a decision to hand over the investigation of the Kaleshwaram project case to the Central Bureau of Investigation,” said Revanth Reddy.<br><br>During the debate on the Ghose Commission report Revanth Reddy also said that Kaleshwaram Corporation was formed for the construction of the Kaleshwaram project and borrowed Rs. 85,449 crore. The previous BRS government borrowed Rs. 27,738 crores at 11.5 percent interest from Power Finance Corporation and another Rs. 30,536 crores borrowed at 12 percent interest, he added.</p><p>BRS working president KT Rama Rao described the P.C. Ghose Commission report as a “trash report,” accusing the Congress of conspiring with the BJP to permanently close down Telangana’s lifeline project.</p><p>KTR alleged that the ruling party had suppressed the Opposition’s voice inside the Assembly. “Our members were not allowed to speak. Even when Harish Rao tried to raise valid points, the Chief Minister and Ministers shouted him down. The Speaker acted as though nothing was amiss,” he said.</p><p>KTR maintained that Kaleshwaram, the world’s largest lift irrigation scheme, is an engineering marvel and a boon to lakhs of farmers.</p><p>“The Currency Manager (CM) of Rahul Gandhi in Telangana has decided to handover Kaleshwaram case to CBI. The very CBI that RahulGandhi had famously called “Opposition Elimination Cell” of the BJP. Have you any clue Gandhi on what your CM is doing? Bring it on, whatever it is that you conspire against us, we will fight legally and politically. We have faith in judiciary and the people,” said KTR.</p><p>Additionally, the Telangana Assembly passed two bills that will enable 42% reservations for Backward Classes in both rural and urban local bodies. The Telangana Municipalities (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 and Telangana Panchayat Raj (Third Amendment) Bill, 2025 were passed by voice vote after a heated debate during which the ruling Congress and main opposition BRS blamed each other for non-implementation of enhanced reservation for Bcs.</p>